Pet chew dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A pet chew dispensing device simultaneously secures and dispenses a pet chew. In some examples, the device may comprise a body of chew resistant material and a window formed through the body and adapted to receive the pet chew therein. When disposed inside the window, the pet chew remains partially exposed while the pet chew is simultaneously protected by the body of chew resistant material. The device adaptively pressures the pet chew, such that pet chews which change size over time (or having a range of different initial sizes) may nonetheless remain secured.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation in part which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/882,667, entitled “PET CHEWDISPENSING DEVICE”, filed on Jan. 29, 2018, which is a nonprovisionalclaiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 62/537,626, entitled “PET CHEW DISPENSING DEVICE”, filed onJul. 27, 2017. The prior applications are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of popular pet toy products available in pet supplystores. Pet “toys”, such as balls, ropes, and rubber chew toys, aredistinguished herein from pet “chews” such as bones, rawhides, bullysticks, and hardened cheeses. Pet toys are not designed for consumption,while pet chews are designed to be at least partially consumed. Whilechews made of relatively tough materials can withstand the stress ofbeing chewed for some time, it is nonetheless desirable to extend thelife of chews, particularly for certain pets. Furthermore, it may bedesirable add interest to chews by making them more challenging and/orentertaining. In general, there is an ongoing need to increase thevariety of both pet toy and pet chew products to meet the needs andpreferences available to dog and other pet owners.

SUMMARY

A pet chew dispensing device is disclosed. The pet chew dispensingdevice may be adapted to simultaneously secure and dispense a pet chew.In some examples, the pet chew dispensing device may comprise a body ofchew resistant material, and a window formed through the body andadapted to receive the pet chew therein. When disposed inside thewindow, opposite faces of the pet chew remain exposed while a perimeterof the pet chew is protected by the body of chew resistant material.Opposite edges of the window may comprise opposing means to secure thepet chew inside the window. At least one of the opposing means to securethe pet chew may include a means to adaptively pressure the pet chew,such that pet chews having a range of different sizes may nonetheless bepressed against the opposite means to secure the pet chew. Furtheraspects of the invention are shown in the attached pictures anddescribed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and attendant advantages of the disclosed technologieswill become fully appreciated when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of an example large pet chewdispensing device;

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view thereof, the back being a mirror image;

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view thereof,

FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view thereof, the left side being amirror image;

FIG. 7 is a first perspective view of an example small pet chewdispensing device;

FIG. 8 is a second perspective view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a front plan view thereof, the back being a mirror image;

FIG. 10 is a top elevation view thereof,

FIG. 11 is a bottom elevation view thereof,

FIG. 12 is a right side elevation view thereof, the left side being amirror image;

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of an example pet chew dispensing devicecomprising example alternative means to secure the pet chew therein;

FIG. 14 is a first perspective view of an example large pet chewdispensing device including brace walls;

FIG. 15 is a second perspective view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a front plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a back plan view thereof,

FIG. 18 is a top elevation view thereof,

FIG. 19 is a bottom elevation view thereof,

FIG. 20 is a right side elevation view thereof,

FIG. 21 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 22 is a first perspective view of an example small pet chewdispensing device including brace walls;

FIG. 23 is a second perspective view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a front plan view thereof; and

FIG. 25 is a back plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Prior to explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is not limited to the details ofconstruction or arrangements of the components and method steps setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.Embodiments of this disclosure are capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are forthe purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of an example large pet chewdispensing device 100, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The pet chew dispensing device 100 is adapted tosecure and dispense a pet chew, e.g., the pet chew 301 illustrated inFIG. 3. Pet chew 301 may comprise, e.g., a block of hardened cheese,bone, rawhide, bully stick, combinations thereof, or any of a variety ofother tough chewable materials suitable for pet consumption, as will beappreciated.

With reference to FIG. 1, the pet chew dispensing device 100 includes abody 101 of chew resistant material and a window 102 formed through saidbody 101, wherein the window 102 is adapted to receive the pet chew 301therein. When disposed inside the window 102, opposite faces of the petchew 301 remain at least partially exposed while a perimeter of the petchew 301 is substantially protected by the body 101 of chew resistantmaterial. In other optional embodiments, the body 101 may compriseadditional structures extending therefrom and/or partially securingand/or covering exposed faces of pet chew 301.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the example large pet chewdispensing device 100. FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of teeth 201disposed along at least a first edge of the window 102. Teeth 201comprise one example means to secure a first side of the perimeter ofthe pet chew 301 at a first edge of the window 102. A variety of othermeans to secure the pet chew 301 may be used in place of teeth in someembodiments, as will be appreciated. Also, in some embodiments, teeth201 or other means to secure the pet chew 301 may optionally be disposedalong additional edges of the window 102, in addition to the first edgethereof.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a pointed screw tip 103 is illustrated as anexample means to secure a second side of the perimeter of the pet chew301 at a second edge of the window 102. The second side of the pet chew301 and the second edge of the window 102, that is, the vicinity of thepointed screw tip 103, is opposite the first side of the pet chew 301and the first edge of the window 102, that is, the vicinity of thepointed teeth 201.

At least one of the means to secure a side of the perimeter of the petchew 301, e.g., the pointed screw tip 103, may comprise a means toadaptively pressure to the pet chew 301. In general, the means toadaptively pressure the pet chew may adapt to a range of pet chew sizes,and may press the pet chew 301 against the opposing means to secure theperimeter of the pet chew 301. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, the pointed screw tip 103 is backed by a threaded screw. Thescrew is disposed inside a threaded hole extending from a perimeter ofthe body 101 of chew resistant material, through a portion of the body101 of chew resistant material, and into the window 102.

In the illustrated embodiment, the screw provides the means toadaptively pressure the pet chew 301, because the screw can be advancedand retreated to adapt to a range of pet chew sizes, and the screwpresses the pet chew 301 against the teeth 201 to secure the perimeterof the pet chew 301. Screw tip 103 and the attached screw comprise oneexample means to secure a side of the pet chew 301, and one examplemeans to adaptively pressure the pet chew 301, respectively. A varietyof other means to secure the pet chew 301 and/or adaptively pressure thepet chew 301 may be used in place of the screw tip 103 and screw in someembodiments, as will be appreciated.

Some embodiments may comprise one “adaptive” means to secure the petchew 301, such as screw tip 103 which comprises means to adaptivelypressure the pet chew 301, and one “passive” means to secure the petchew 301, such as teeth 201, which are stationary and unadaptable. Otherembodiments may comprise multiple “adaptive” means, or only “adaptive”means, or multiple “adaptive” means and multiple “passive” means, alongdifferent sides of the window 102.

In some embodiments, the body 101 of chew resistant material maycomprise, e.g., nylon, hard rubber, hard plastic, bone, wood, metal, orother hard material. In some embodiments, the chew resistant materialmay generally be harder than a chew 301 inserted in the window 102, butsofter than pet's teeth to avoid dental damage. The body 101 of chewresistant material may be solid, or may be hollow inside.

In FIG. 1, the example body 101 is disc shaped, with a round outerperimeter, a front side and a back side. The body 101 has a middlethickness which tapers toward the outer perimeter. A plurality ofprotruding knobs 104 are spaced at intervals as shown. The window 102 isrectangular (square) and formed in the middle of the body 101. Ofcourse, other shapes and configurations for body 101 may be made withthe benefit of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the body 101 maybe, e.g., about 3-5 inches in diameter, and about 0.75-1.5 inches thickat the window 102. The window 102 may be about 0.75-1.5 inches inlength, height and thickness (depth). Other body shapes and sizes may besuitable for different embodiments. For example, rectangular or starshaped body 101 perimeters, or elliptical or circular windows 102 may bemade for some embodiments. Furthermore, additional structures may extendfrom body 101 in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the teeth 201 may be molded as part of the body101, so that body 101 and teeth 201 are made from a single piece of thesame material, as shown. The teeth 201 may generally be small, pointedcones several millimeters (1-4) in height, which will bite into a petchew 301 inserted into the window 102. In FIG. 2, there are seven teethdisposed along one edge of the window 102, and the teeth 201 are all ina single line, across a middle of the window edge surface, extendingbetween opposite sides of the window 102. More or fewer teeth 201 may beused and the teeth 201 may be arranged differently in other embodiments.For example, teeth 201 may be arranged in two or more lines, or in azigzag or other pattern, or in staggered lines in other embodiments. Insome embodiments, additional teeth 201 may be formed along additionalwindow edges.

FIG. 1 illustrates a distal end of the screw comprising screw tip 103,and FIG. 2 illustrates the proximal end of the screw. The screw isdisposed in a threaded hole which extends through the body 101. Thethreaded hole extends from an outer surface of the body 101, through thebody 101, and into the window 102, entering the window 102 opposite theteeth 201 as shown.

In some embodiments, the screw may be made of a same material as thebody 101. Like the body 101 itself, the screw may be solid or hollow.The screw comprises a screw diameter that substantially matches adiameter of the threaded hole, in order to form a friction fit insidethe threaded hole. In some embodiments, the screw diameter may be, e.g.,about ¼-¾ the center thickness of the body 101 (0.1875-1.5 inches). Insome embodiments, the screw diameter may be, e.g., up to 2 centimeters.In some embodiments, the screw may have a diameter of at least 0.1875inches. The screw may be generally of wide diameter, as shown, in orderto generate appropriate friction force, preventing the screw fromreleasing, while simultaneously being easy to turn using hand tools.

The screw may generally be of a length such that when the proximal endof the screw is at the outer surface of the body 101, the pointed tip103 protrudes up to 1-2 centimeters into the window 102, as shown. Forexample, the screw may be 2-5 centimeters in length in some embodiments.The pointed tip 103 may have a unique shape as shown, with the pointedtip in the middle of the screw, and a comparatively wide, flat skirtsurrounding the pointed tip.

The screw may comprise a tool interface 202 at the proximal end thereof,e.g., one or more screwdriver grooves as shown. The screw may betightened by applying a twisting force at the tool interface 202. Thetool interface 202 may be in a flat head or Phillip's head arrangement.In some embodiments, the grooves of the tool interface 202 may be up to3-4 millimeters in width, and may extend across the full diameter of theproximal end of the screw, allowing for the use of a coin or otherimplement to tighten the screw.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front plan view of the pet chew dispensing device100, the back being a mirror image. The pet chew dispensing device 100may receive a pet chew 301, e.g., a rectangular block of hardened cheeseor other chew, in the window 102, and the screw may be tightened to holdthe pet chew 201 securely between the teeth 201 and the screw tip 103.If the chew 301 becomes loose inside the window 102, the screw may betightened further. The pet chew dispensing device 100 extends the lifeof the chew 301 while adding challenge and interest for the pet.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 provide additional views of the example pet chewdispensing device 100. FIG. 4 is a top elevation view thereof; FIG. 5 isa bottom elevation view thereof; and FIG. 6 is a right side elevationview thereof, the left side being a mirror image.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 illustrate and example small sized petchew dispensing device 700, in accordance with at least some embodimentsof the present disclosure. The smaller sized pet chew dispensing device700 may generally be similar to the larger pet chew dispensing device100, described herein. The smaller sized pet chew dispensing device 700may be, e.g., about 50%-80% of the size of the pet chew dispensingdevice 100. FIG. 7 is a first perspective view of the example small petchew dispensing device 700; FIG. 8 is a second perspective view thereof;FIG. 9 is a front plan view thereof, the back being a mirror image; FIG.10 is a top elevation view thereof; FIG. 11 is a bottom elevation viewthereof; and FIG. 12 is a right side elevation view thereof, the leftside being a mirror image.

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of an example pet chew dispensing device1300 comprising example alternative means to secure the pet chew 301therein. In FIG. 13, a set of two channel walls 1301 provide means tosecure a first side of the perimeter of the pet chew 301 at a first edgeof the window. One end of the pet chew 301 may be inserted in thechannel formed between the channel walls 1301. Furthermore, a movingplate 1303 with teeth provide the means to secure a second side of theperimeter of the pet chew at a second edge of the window. The movingplate 1303 is mounted on springs 1304 between the plate 1303 and thebody 101. The springs 1304 provide the means to adaptively pressure tothe pet chew 301 by adapting to a range of pet chew sizes and pressingthe pet chew 301 against the channel formed by channel walls 1301. FIG.13 illustrates example modifications to the securing means and adaptivepressuring means illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be appreciated that thevarious securing means and adaptive pressure means disclosed herein maybe interchanged, modified, or supplemented in some embodiments.

FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 illustrate an example large petchew dispensing device 1400 including brace walls, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 14 and 15provide perspective views of pet chew dispensing device 1400. FIGS. 16and 17 provide front and back plan views thereof, respectively, FIGS. 18and 19 provide top and bottom elevation views thereof, respectively, andFIGS. 20 and 21 provide right side and left side elevation viewsthereof, respectively.

Pet chew dispensing device 1400 may generally comprise many of thefeatures described herein in connection with pet chew dispensing device100, as will be appreciated from the drawings, and like elements in thedrawings are given like identifiers. Furthermore, pet chew dispensingdevice 1400 may generally comprise similar dimensions and materialsdescribed herein in connection with pet chew dispensing device 100.

The pet chew dispensing device 1400 includes a body 1401 of chewresistant material and a window 1402 formed through said body 1401,wherein the window 1402 is adapted to receive a pet chew 1600 therein(see FIGS. 16, 17, and 19). When disposed inside the window 1402,opposite faces of the pet chew 1600 may remain at least partiallyexposed while at least a portion of a perimeter of the pet chew 1600 maybe protected by the body 1401 of chew resistant material. Furthermore,at least one brace wall, such as brace wall 1405 and/or brace wall 1505,may protrude from the body 1401 of chew resistant material. The bracewalls 1405 and 1505 may be coplanar with window 1402 edges and bracewalls 1405 and 1505 may thereby adapted to brace the pet chew 1600 inthe window 1402, as well as to provide additional protection for the petchew 1600.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pet chew dispensing device 1400comprises two brace walls 1405 and 1505 protruding from opposite sidesof the body 1401 of chew resistant material. Each of the brace walls1405 and 1505 is positioned at a corner of the window 1402, and thebrace walls 1405 and 1505 are furthermore positioned at diagonallyopposite corners of the window 1402. Brace walls 1405 and 1505 “wrap”around window 1402 corners, with each brace wall 1405 and 1505comprising a first portion 1801 coplanar with a first window edge, and asecond portion 1802 coplanar with a second window edge. For example,FIG. 18 illustrates brace wall 1405 comprising a first portion 1801coplanar with a first window edge (the bottom window edge as seen inFIG. 16), and a second portion 1802 coplanar with a second window edge(the right window edge as seen in FIG. 16). Brace wall 1505 similarlycomprises first and second portions 1801 and 1802, which are coplanarwith the top and left window edges seen in FIG. 16, respectively.Furthermore, the first and second portions 1801, 1802 of the brace walls1405 and 1505 may have different heights. In the illustrated embodiment,the first portions 1801 (coplanar with the top and bottom window edges)have a shorter height which is approximately half the height of thesecond portions 1802 (coplanar with the right and left window edges).

In the illustrated embodiment, e.g., in FIGS. 16, 17, and 19, opposite(front and back) faces 1901, 1902 of chew 1600 are completely exposedbecause front and back faces 1901, 1902 are not braced or covered by anyportion of body 1401. In alternative embodiments, it will be appreciatedthat one or more structures of body 1401 may partially extend overportions of front and back faces 1901, 1902. For example, secondportions 1802 of brace walls 1405 or 1505, illustrated in FIG. 18, maybe shaped to include lateral members extending at least partially acrossfront and back faces 1901, 1902 of chew 1600. Body 1401 may furthermorecomprise additional structures extending therefrom and/or partiallysecuring and/or covering exposed faces of pet chew 1600.

In the illustrated embodiment, a center portion of the perimeter of thepet chew 1600 is protected by the body 1401 of chew resistant material.The perimeter of pet chew 1600 may include, e.g., the top, bottom, leftand right faces thereof. As will be understood with reference to FIG.19, the central disk of body 1401 protects the central portion of theperimeter of pet chew 1600 covered thereby. Brace walls 1405 and 1505additionally protect the right and left faces of the pet chew 1600, andportions of the top and bottom faces of the pet chew 1600. In someembodiments, additional brace walls may be included to protect more ofthe perimeter of pet chew 1600, or brace walls 1405 and 1505 may bedifferently configured to protect more or less of the pet chew 1600.

In addition to protecting portions of pet chew 1600, brace walls 1405and 1505 brace the pet chew 1600 in the window 1402. In the illustratedembodiment, brace walls 1405 and 1505 may be coplanar with window edges,preventing motion of the pet chew 1600 relative to the pet chewdispensing device 1400. While coplanar brace walls are well suited topet chews which are rectangular or otherwise include planar faces (suchas pet chew 1600), differently shaped pet chews may be accommodated bydifferently shaped, even nonplanar and/or non-coplanar brace walls, aswill be appreciated. In general, brace walls 1405 and 1505 may beadapted to extend from body 1401 and contact the perimeter of pet chew1600 in order to brace the pet chew 1600 in the pet chew dispensingdevice 1400. Furthermore, in some embodiments, one or more of bracewalls 1405 and 1505 may be at a slight inward angle in order to firmlysecure a rectangular pet chew 1600 in the pet chew dispensing device1400—such slightly angled embodiments are considered as substantiallycoplanar as the term is used herein.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that numerous other variationsof brace walls 1405, 1505 are possible. In some embodiments, brace walls1405, 1505 may surround the entire window 1402. In some embodiments,brace walls 1405, 1505 may extend from each corner of window 1402, whileoptionally leaving one or more gaps between corner walls. In someembodiments, brace walls 1405, 1505 may extend from one or more sides ofwindow 1402 without wrapping around the corners. Furthermore, numerousheight variations are possible. In some embodiments, brace walls 1405,1505 may be of uniform height or may have different sections ofdifferent heights as illustrated. These and other variations are withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as will be appreciated.

FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25 illustrate and example small sized pet chewdispensing device 2200 including brace walls, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. The smaller sized petchew dispensing device 2200 may generally be similar to the larger petchew dispensing device 1400, described herein. The smaller sized petchew dispensing device 2200 may be, e.g., about 50%-80% of the size ofthe pet chew dispensing device 1400. FIGS. 22 and 23 provide first andsecond perspective views of the example small pet chew dispensing device2200 including brace walls, and FIGS. 24 and 25 provide front and backplan views thereof, respectively. The top and side views of the examplesmall pet chew dispensing device 2200 are substantially identical tothose views of the larger pet chew dispensing device 1400.

While various embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects andembodiments will be apparent to those skilled in art.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A pet chew dispensing device to secure anddispense a pet chew, comprising: a body of chew resistant material; awindow formed through said body of chew resistant material, wherein thewindow receives the pet chew therein, and wherein, when disposed insidethe window, opposite faces of the pet chew remain at least partiallyexposed while at least a portion of a perimeter of the pet chew isprotected by the body of chew resistant material; and at least one bracewall protruding from the body of chew resistant material, wherein thebrace wall is coplanar with a window edge and is thereby adapted tobrace the pet chew in the window.
 2. The pet chew dispensing device ofclaim 1, wherein the pet chew dispensing device comprises two bracewalls protruding from opposite sides of the body of chew resistantmaterial.
 3. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one means to adaptively pressure the pet chew withinthe window, wherein the at least one means to adaptively pressure thepet chew adapts to a range of pet chew sizes and applies pressureagainst at least one side of the perimeter of the pet chew.
 4. The petchew dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the body of chew resistantmaterial is disc shaped.
 5. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1,wherein the body of chew resistant material has a middle thickness whichtapers toward an outer perimeter of the body of chew resistant material.6. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the window isrectangular.
 7. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1, wherein thewindow is formed in a middle of the body of chew resistant material. 8.The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the body of chewresistant material comprises nylon.
 9. The pet chew dispensing device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one brace wall is positioned at a cornerof the window, and wherein the at least one brace wall comprises a firstportion coplanar with a first window edge, and a second portion coplanarwith a second window edge.
 10. The pet chew dispensing device of claim9, wherein the first and second portions of the at least one brace wallhave different heights.
 11. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 1,further comprising a means to secure a first side of the perimeter ofthe pet chew at a first edge of the window.
 12. The pet chew dispensingdevice of claim 11, wherein the means to secure the first side of theperimeter of the pet chew at the first edge of the window comprises oneor more teeth disposed along the first edge of the window.
 13. The petchew dispensing device of claim 11, further comprising a means to securea second side of the perimeter of the pet chew at a second edge of thewindow, wherein the second side of the perimeter of the pet chew and thesecond edge of the window, respectively, are opposite the first side ofthe perimeter of the pet chew and the first edge of the window,respectively.
 14. The pet chew dispensing device of claim 13, whereinthe means to secure the second side of the perimeter of the pet chewcomprises a means to adaptively pressure the pet chew, wherein the meansto adaptively pressure the pet chew adapts to a range of pet chew sizesand presses the pet chew against the means to secure the first side ofthe perimeter of the pet chew.
 15. The pet chew dispensing device ofclaim 14, wherein the means to secure the second side of the perimeterof the pet chew at the second edge of the window comprises a pointedscrew tip, and wherein the means to adaptively pressure the pet chewcomprises a screw disposed inside a threaded hole extending from aperimeter of said body of chew resistant material, through a portion ofthe body of chew resistant material, and into the window.
 16. The petchew dispensing device of claim 15, wherein a screw diametersubstantially matches a diameter of the threaded hole in order to form afriction fit inside the threaded hole.
 17. The pet chew dispensingdevice of claim 15, wherein the screw has a diameter of at least 0.1875inches and is made from a same chew resistant material as the body ofchew resistant material.